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Suspicious White Powdery Substance Found in Downtown LA Metro Station

Universal Detection Technology, a developer of early-warning monitoring technologies to protect people from bioterrorism and other infectious health threats and provider of counter-terrorism consulting and training services, commented recently on a hazmat incident that occurred at a downtown Los Angeles Metro station on Friday, July 30th, that forced an evacuation from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

A suspicious, white powdery substance was found at the 7th Street Metro Station and was reported around 5 a.m. PDT, forcing an evacuation of the station. Officials later reopened the station around 7 a.m. PDT. The powder substance has been identified as fire extinguisher contents and the suspect is reported to be employed in that industry.

“The incident that happened in Los Angeles on Friday is a reminder that CBRN threats and hazmat situations can occur anywhere, at anytime.” said Jacques Tizabi, Universal Detection Technology’s CEO. “Even if a suspicious substance is not truly a biohazard, or if it is a hoax, first responders are only aware of this after following proper procedure verifying the presence of a biohazard. Along with public vigilance and personnel protocol, rapid and on-site detection is critical to reducing the health risks and response times,” continued Tizabi.

Tizabi noted that the company’s flagship bioweapons detection kits, certified last year by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as an “Approved Product for Homeland Security” under the SAFETY Act, are ideally suited for first response and law enforcement teams. In under three minutes, the kits can detect and identify up to five separate threats using one sample in a single, easy-to-use device.

The kits equip first responders with an effective tool for the rapid onsite detection of up to five biological agents: anthrax, ricin, botulinum toxin, Y. pestis (plague) and Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB).

Universal Detection Technology, a developer of early-warning monitoring technologies to protect people from bioterrorism and other infectious health threats and provider of counter-terrorism consulting and training services, commented recently on a hazmat incident that occurred at a downtown Los Angeles Metro station on Friday, July 30th, that forced an evacuation from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.